Kunlé Adeyemi – NLÉ Architects / TALK (EN)

2 April 2015, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Kunlé Adeyemi is the founder of NLÉ, an up-and-coming architecture and design studio based in Amsterdam and Lagos, Nigeria. In his talk, he presents selected projects including the African Water Cities Project, which focuses on the development of Africa’s coastal regions in view of climate change and increasing urbanization. One of the most well-known projects is the much-publicised Makoko Floating School, a floating schoolhouse and community centre on Lagos Lagoon. Adeyemi’s design for Chicoco Radio in Port Harcourt earned him a prize at the Regional Holcim Awards 2014 Africa Middle East. Free admission

Making Africa – Ideas and Objects for a Continent to Come / OPENING TALK (EN)

13 March 2015, 5:30 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Okwui Enwezor is one of the foremost experts on the African cultural landscape and the consulting curator for the exhibition »Making Africa«. He was the artistic director of documenta 2002 and currently serves as the director of the 2015 Venice Art Biennale as well as the director of Haus der Kunst in Munich. To mark the opening of »Making Africa«, Okwui Enwezor will talk with Amelie Klein, curator of the exhibition, about the development of the exhibition, its themes and hypotheses, and some of the most interesting exhibits and protagonists, as well as the question of how contemporary art and design are shaping the continent’s future. Free admission, registration: events@design-museum.de

Front Design – Swedish Delights / TALK (EN)

26 February 2015, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

The three designers of Front Design are among the shooting stars of the international design scene. With their innovative and often humorously ambiguous objects for renowned manufacturers like Moroso, IKEA, Hansgrohe and Thonet, they explore new avenues in the field of design. Sofia Lagerkvist, one of the three designers of Front, provides insights into one of today’s most productive design studios. Free admission

19 February 2015, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

»Form must have a content, and that content must be linked with nature«, according to Alvar Aalto. What can we learn from Aalto’s perception of nature? Can it be helpful in redefining sustainability in today’s context? These questions are discussed by the architectural critic Andreas Ruby with Lena Kleinheinz of Magma Architecture and Prof. Matthias Sauerbruch of Sauerbruch Hutton. Kleinheinz and Sauerbruch are two of the most innovative representatives of sustainable building. At the Summer Olympics in London, Magma Architecture used PVC that was free of toxic plasticisers for the first time. Sauerbruch Hutton has been one of the pioneers of integrated sustainable planning for 20 years. Their most important projects include the Museum Brandhorst in Munich, the Federal Environmental Agency in Dessau and the planned M9 Museum in Venice. Free admission

Harri Koskinen – Learning from Aalto / TALK (EN)

5 February 2015, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Harri Koskinen, one of the most prominent Finnish designers active today, runs his industrial design agency in Helsinki. He also works as the design director for glass manufacturer Iittala, producer of Aalto’s legendary Savoy Vase and many other design icons. Koskinen talks about inspirations and design processes in the many facets of his work: furniture, lighting, glass objects and more. Free admission

29 January 2015, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Interpreting proportions and combining materials in new and unique ways: Flemish architects Jan de Vylder, Inge Vinck and Jo Taillieu have attracted international attention for their work. With new building projects as well as conversions of existing structures, they adeptly play with traditional architectural elements. The architects demonstrate how they continuously reinvent the codes of classical and regional architecture. Free admission

Alvar Aalto and Art – Curator’s Tour / WEDNESDAY MATINEE (DE)

28 January 2015, 10 am, Vitra Design Museum

The curator Jochen Eisenbrand gives a guided tour of the exhibition, explaining how the project came together, sharing interesting background information and answering questions. Admission: € 7.00 per person

Basel Museums Night / SPECIAL (DE)

16 January 2015, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

The exhibition »Source Material« presents objects and keepsakes that have had a pivotal effect on the work of 65 creative minds from the fields of art, design, music, film and architecture. At the Museums Night it is your turn: which objects have inspired you? During one long night, we will create a display with the keepsakes and souvenirs that trigger our fantasy. The audience will be involved by drawing, taking photographs and curating. The resulting display will remain part of the exhibition »Source Material« until its end.

Finnish Dinner – Nordic Delights / SPECIAL (DE)

11 December 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Experience the exhibition »Alvar Aalto – Second Nature« with a guided tour followed by a dinner featuring a delectable assortment of Finnish specialities. € 52.00 per person, incl. set menu, registration: events@design-museum.de

4 December 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

»Aalto’s buildings are viewing machines«: the Milan-born photographer Armin Linke documented numerous buildings by Aalto for the exhibition »Alvar Aalto – Second Nature«. The images transport the viewer into Aalto’s spatial environments, situated between documentation and fiction and showing Aalto’s buildings from a fascinating present-day perspetive. Linke discusses his investigation of a great architectural oeuvre and draws parallels with his own explorations of the Italian designer Carlo Mollino. Free admission

Claesson Koivisto Rune – Building New Scandinavia / TALK (EN)

27 November 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Founded in 1995, the architecture trio Claesson Koivisto Rune is regarded as one of the most important representatives of new Scandinavian architecture and design. Their most important buildings include the Sfera Building in Kyoto, Japan (2003) with a façade of perforated titanium panels as well as the Örsta Gallery in Kumla, Sweden (2010). The company also creates lighting, furniture, wallpaper and accessories for such producers as Cappellini and Iittala. During the talk, the architects will explain their work and explore the question of whether a Scandinavian aesthetic in architecture and design still exists today. Free admission

Nina Stritzler-Levine – The Aaltos, Artek and America / TALK (EN)

6 November 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

In 1935, Aalto founded the company Artek together with his wife Aino and two colleagues. It became the epitome of Scandinavian design: reduced, elegant and natural. Artek still sells Aalto’s furniture and designs today, but focused from the outset also on promoting modernist ideas. Aalto’s success in the USA began with his Finnish Pavilion at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York. The New York curator Nina Stritzler-Levine explains the fascinating history of Artek and Aalto’s enduring influence on American design. Free admission

Gramazio & Kohler – Digital Architecture / TALK (DE)

30 October 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

A computer-controlled robot that produces innovative structural elements: Swiss architects Fabio Gramazio and Matthias Kohler explore how digital technologies are bringing about fundamental changes in architecture. Such techniques were applied in creating the façade of the widely acclaimed Gantenbein Winery in Fläsch, Switzerland or the Flight Assembled Architecture in Orléans – the first architectural installation that was built by flying robots. Matthias Kohler demonstrates the potential of digital design, construction and fabrication methods for the future of architecture. Free admission

Contemporaries – Working with Aalto / TALK (DE)

16 October 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Aalto called them his »Swiss Guard«: over the decades, he employed a number of Swiss architects in his studio. Four of these contemporaries, Walter Moser, Theo Senn, Ulrich Rüegg and Michaela Mina, report on specific projects and share anecdotes and personal experiences. A cooperation with the Alvar Aalto Society, Swiss Chapter. Free admission

Shigeru Ban – Starting from Nature / TALK (EN)

2 October 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

He is one of the most important Japanese architects: Shigeru Ban, 2014 Pritzker Prize winner. His buildings include the Centre Pompidou in Metz and innovative single-family homes as well as humanitarian and experimental projects, such as emergency shelters made of cardboard. Ban expressed his admiration for Aalto’s masterly treatment of the material wood with two exhibition projects. Ban speaks about his design philosophy, his engagement with Aalto and Aalto’s intensive relationship with Japanese architecture.Admission: € 10.00, registration: events@design-museum.de

26 September 2014, 17:30 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Nature, art, media: Aalto’s work is astonishingly contemporary. Eeva-Liisa Pelkonen, professor at Yale University, explores Aalto’s geopolitical significance as well as his dialogue with the artists of his day. Wilfried Kuehn, partner of Kuehn Malvezzi, brings together multiple perspectives: he was responsible for the exhibition design of »Alvar Aalto – Second Nature« and is himself a renowned architect and art collector. In the opening talk, Pelkonen, Kuehn and another guest discuss Aalto’s importance in contemporary architecture. Free admission, registration: events@design-museum.de

Jan Boelen – No Risk, No Design / TALK (EN)

11 September 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Jan Boelen is artistic director of the Z33 house for contemporary art in Hasselt, Belgium, teaches at the Design Academy Eindhoven, and is a prominent thinker in the field of critical design. He addresses a new understanding of design that tests the boundaries with art, merges fiction and reality, and has no qualms when it comes to embracing new approaches: whether with spontaneous architectures, manipulated bacterial cultures or collective design processes via the Internet. Free admission

Snøhetta – Kjetil Trædal Thorsen / Talk (EN)

7 August 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

The Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta achieved renown with sculptural buildings for which integration in the surrounding environment is as important as a well-conceived interior. Founder Kjetil Trædal Thorsen presents his projects and ideas about architecture. Free admission

Guided Tour – Álvaro Siza / WEDNESDAY MATINEE (DE)

30 July 2014, 10 am, Vitra Design Museum

With museum educator Katrin Hager, € 7.00 per person

Rethinking Materials – Ding3000 / Talk (DE)

24 July 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Around 1865 the first pedal-powered cycle in history was invented: the high wheeler, also known as a velocipede. As a tribute to this era of enthusiasm for technology and invention, DING3000 and BASF’s designfabrik embarked on an unparalleled thought experiment: how would the pedal cycle with its wheels of different sizes have looked if today’s advanced materials had been accessible to the cycling pioneers? During the talk, the designers of DING3000 will present their answer with the ‘Concept 1865’: a ready-to-ride velocipede that will be on display and available for inspection with an electric drive and 24 polymer plastics, some of which are highly innovative. On the basis of this project, the designers will discuss with BASF specialists how material innovations facilitate new surfaces and forms, including for other fields such as furniture design.

Matthias Horx – Goodbye Future? / TALK (DE)

10 July 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Matthias Horx heads the Hamburg-based Future Institute, a renowned think tank studying current and future trends. In his talk, Horx explores the design andarchitecture of the coming decade as well as the recurrent question: what can we really say about the future? Free admission

Diller Scofidio + Renfro – Elizabeth Diller / TALK (EN)

4 July 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

The designs of Diller Scofidio + R enfro probe the boundaries of contemporary architecture. »Blur«, a pavilion created for the Swiss Expo 02, is anarchitecture of atmosphere, made entirely of mist. The »High Line«, a 2.4-km-long public park in New York, transformed an abandoned elevated railroad into a popular green space. Liz Diller talks about the studio’s projects and the complex work that lies behind each visionary design. Free admission.

Curator’s Tour – Konstantin Grcic / WEDNESDAY MATINEE (DE)

25 June 2014, 10 am, Vitra Design Museum

With curator Janna Lipsky, € 7.00 per person

Konstantin Grcic meets Hans Ulrich Obrist / Talk (EN)

17 June 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

In connection with Art Basel / Design Miami, Konstantin Grcic discusses the relationship of design and art with Hans Ulrich Obrist, one of the most influential curators of our time. A highlight of the art and design fairs! Subject of the discussion is the relationship between art and design; what do they have in common, where are the differences? What is a design exhibition and what constitutes an art show? What is reality, what is fiction? Backdrop to this discussion is the current exhibition »Konstantin Grcic – Panorama« at the Vitra Design Museum, but also the project »Design Real«, which was developed by Grcic and Obrist for London’s Serpentine Galleries in 2009. Admission: € 10.00 per person, registration under events@design-museum.de

Stefan Diez / TALK (DE)

15 May 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Following a stint in the studio of Konstantin Grcic, Stefan Diez opened his own practice in 2003. Today he is one of the most successful German designers and counts HAY, Thonet and Bosch among his clients. Diez talks about many facets of his work – from inspiring models up to the finished product. Free admission

25 Years of the Vitra Design Museum / SPECIAL (DE / EN / FR)

11 May 2014, 10 am – 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

To mark the 25th anniversary of the Vitra Design Museum, an open house from 10 am to 6 pm offers guided exhibition tours, architectural tours, and workshops for children and adults. For specific programme details: www.design-museum.de, free admission

Philippe Rahm – The Architecture of Atmospheres / TALK (EN)

14 April 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Philippe Rahm is a visionary figure in contemporary architecture. He understands architecture not as a spatial construct, but as a constructed atmosphere. By altering the temperature, humidity and lighting effects, he modulates these atmospheres to create new perceptions and experiences of space. Rahm explainswhat his projects could mean for the future of building. Free admission

Raumlabor – Temporary Architecture / TALK (DE)

17 April 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

The Raumlabor group works at the interface between architecture, city planning, art and intervention. Their experimental buildings often explicitly engage the user and open up new possibilities in urban spaces. They discuss such projects as the »Spacebuster« mobile dwelling unit and their visions for the city of tomorrow. Free admission

»2001: A Space Odyssey« / FILM (DE)

10 April 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

In his space epic »2001: A Space Odyssey« – a milestone in the history of film - Stanley Kubrick tells a story over a period of 4 million years: a mysterious black monolith that represents a mystery for mankind. With optical effects and stunning interior, the film shaped the genre of science fiction. The current exhibition »Konstantin Grcic – Panorama« and the film show how the perception of life in the future has changed: large future concepts, how they are represented in Kubrick’s movie, become a differentiated and personal perspective. The film will be shown in German. Admission: € 5.00

Olafur Eliasson’s Little Sun Project – Felix Hallwachs / TALK (DE)

13 February 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

In 2012, artist Olafur Eliasson developed the »Little Sun« lamp in collaboration with the engineer Frederik Ottesen. Since then, a pioneering company has formed that is blazing new trails – customers can purchase the solarpoweredlamps on the Internet and micro-entrepreneurs distribute the lamps even in the remotest areas of Africa and Asia. Felix Hallwachs, a close associate of Eliasson and managing director of »Little Sun«, describes the rise and future visions of a project that unites art, design, economics and social engagement in a new way.Free admission, registration not required

Richard Sapper – Lifetime Oeuvre / TALK (DE)

23 January 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Richard Sapper numbers among the most important designers of the twentieth century. His legendary Tizio lamp from 1972 was one of the first desk lamps with a halogen bulb. Sapper created many other iconic designs, including the folding radio TS522 (1964) and the Grillo folding telephone (1965), both in collaboration with Marco Zanuso. In his lecture, Sapper looks back at a large and significant oeuvre. He currently maintains offices in Milan and Beijing. Free admission, registration not required

Basel Museums Night / SPECIAL (DE)

17 January 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

The Vitra Design Museum Gallery hosts the workshop »Repair!« – where children as well as adults are warmly invited to try their hand at fixing things. The best pieces will be shown in the exhibition »Repair!«. In the Dome, visitors can experience the light-and-sound installation »N Polytope« by artist Chris Salter.

9 January 2014, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

In conjunction with the opening of the multimedia installation »n Polytope«, the Canadian artist Chris Salter talks about his interest in the work of the Greek composer and architect Iannis Xenakis. In the 1960s and ’70s, Xenakis developed the idea of a »polytope«‚ a new type of spatial entity that integrated light, music and architecture. Salter elucidates his new artistic interpretation of Xenakis’s approach. Free admission, registration not required

Guided Tour and Candlelight Dinner / SPECIAL (DE)

12 December 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Experience »Lightopia« on a guided tour, followed by a candlelight dinner at the VitraHaus Café. € 38.00 per person, incl. dinner, registration at events@design-museum.de

realities:united – Building with Light / TALK (DE)

5 December 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Under the name realities:united, the brothers Jan and Tim Edler develop lighting and art projects within an architectural context. They first gained an internationalreputation in 2003 with their dynamic media façade for the Kunsthaus Graz designed by Sir Peter Cook. Today they work on large-scale projects around theworld. Their talk focuses on the topics of light, architecture, communication and their concepts for illuminating the city of the future.Free admission, registration not required

Moritz Waldemeyer – Flames and Fashion / TALK (DE)

14 November 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Moritz Waldemeyer is a lighting designer who collaborates with such prominent designers and artists as Ron Arad, Zaha Hadid, Ingo Maurer and the fashiondesigner Hussein Chalayan, as well as musicians including Rihanna and U2. He offers insights into his work at the nexus of fashion, design, art and technology.Free admission, registration not required

Winy Maas – MVRDV / TALK (EN)

7 November 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

With its sculptural, pictorial building projects, the Dutch architectural office MVRDV has made a major contributionto the international reputation and influence of Dutch architecture. Winy Maas, one of MVRDV’s founders, talks about his work and his inspirations. Free admission, registration not required

Siegrun Appelt – »Lichtszene – Dreiland« / Landscapes of light

18 October 2013 8 pm, Rhine Harbor / Dreiländereck

On the occasion of the 2013 IBA Project Show and the exhibition »Lightopia«, the renowned artist Siegrun Appelt, accompanied by Yvonne Ziegler, creates a light installation that celebrates the aesthetic and cultural diversity in the region, with interventions on both banks of the Rhine River in all three countries. Until 2 November 2013, beginning at dusk (approx. 6:50 pm during daylight savings time; approx. 5:50 pm during winter months)

Michele De Lucchi – Inventing Tolomeo / TALK (EN)

17. Oktober 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Michele De Lucchi designed what is probably the most famous desk lamp of our time: Tolomeo. De Lucchi participated in radical Architecture during the 1970s, was later a member of the Memphis movement, and created major design projects for the German Federal railways. He regularly develops small artisanal series in the framework of his Produzione Privata. In this conversation, De Lucchi discusses his work and the inception of his classic Tolomeo lamp. Free admission, registration not required

Alphaville – Jean-Luc Godard / FILM

10 October 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Vacillating between film noir and science fiction, the story follows the experiences of private detective Lemmy Caution in the computer-controlled city of Alphaville. The film offers fascinating insights into the relationships between set design, lighting production and cinematic history. € 8.00 per person, registration not required

Handmade Architecture – Anna Heringer / TALK (DE)

19 September 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Anna Heringer is a pioneer of sustainable and social building practice. The Austrian architect and academic Anna will present her projects in countries such as China, Morocco or Bangladesh, where she has developed a unique approach to architectural design that closely involves local communities and materials. Her work was described by the jury of the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture – which Heringer received in 2007 – as “a fresh and hopeful model for sustainable building globally”. Free admission, registration not required

18 September 2013, 10 am, Vitra Design Museum

A guided exhibition tour presents living environments from around the globe and illustrates how the study of traditional architectural forms provides young architects with inspiration.€ 7.00 per person, registration not required

Learning from Vernacular / OPENING TALK (EN)

9 August 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

In conjunction with the opening of the »Learning from Vernacular« exhibition, Pierre Frey, Curator and Professor at the EPFL, speaks with Simon Velez, the most prominent proponent of bamboo architecture,which has been rediscovered in many parts of the world. They discuss how innovative techniques can be applied to use local raw materials – and how this could change building in the future.Free admission, registration not required

Archizines: The Magazine as an Art Form / TALK (EN)

11 July 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Inspired by new architectural discourses and publishing options, a new culture of young and experimental architectural magazines has emerged over the last decade. Elias Redstone, Curator of the exhibition »Archizines« in the Vitra Design Museum Gallery, addresses this development with Lilet Breddels, director of the Archis Foundation and publisher of Volume Magazine.Free admission, registration not required

Louis Kahn – Curator’s Tour / WEDNESDAY MATINEE (DE)

26 June 2013, 10 am, Vitra Design Museum

Curator Jochen Eisenbrand offers a guided tour of the exhibition »Louis Kahn – The Power of Architecture«, explaining the background of Kahn’s work and answering questions.€ 7.00 per person, registration not required

Zaha Hadid / SPECIAL LECTURE (EN)

11 June 2013, 5 pm, Vitra Design Museum

This year, the Fire Station by Zaha Hadid on the Vitra Campus celebrates its twenty-year anniversary – it was the first work by Hadid ever to be realized and marked the beginning of a great architectural career. To commemorate this milestone, in Art Basel week (11 – 16 June), Zaha Hadid delivers a lecture on her own work. Entry € 20.00, admission from 4pm. Due to the expected demand please register at events(at)design-museum.de.

Metabolism Revisited – Charlie Koolhaas / TALK (EN)

6 June 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

With their high-profile 2012 project, Hans-Ulrich Obrist, Rem Koolhaas and the photographs of Charlie Koolhaas took a new look at the phenomenon of Metabolist architecture in Japan, for which Louis Kahn provided a significant influence. Charlie Koolhaas speaks about the rediscovery of this phenomenon and her photographic explorations in the Far East.Free admission, registration not required

East Meets West – Doshi Levien / TALK (EN)

16 May 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

The young Indian-British design duo Doshi Levien achieved prominence with works combining western industrial design with Asian influences. The designers present their work, talk about intercultural associations and explain why Louis Kahn is an important source of inspiration for them.Free admission, registration not required

City, Land, River – Louis Kahn for Children / CHILDREN’S TOUR (DE)

12 May 2013, 11 am, Vitra Design Museum

For Louis Kahn, the interplay between nature and architecture played a decisive role. Following a tour of the exhibition, we will sketch the museum and the VitraHaus in the context of their surroundings.For children 5 – 12 years of age.€ 5.00 per child, registration at workshops@design-museum.de

Brutalism Rediscovered – Florian Dreher / TALK (DE)

2 May 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

The architecture of brutalism emerged between the 1950s and 1970s and was characterized by the use of raw concrete. It is represented by works of Louis Kahn, Le Corbusier, Peter & Alison Smithson and Paul Rudolph. Architecture scholar Florian Dreher speaks about the rediscovery of this architectural phenomenon.Free admission, registration not required

Sacred Architecture and »Multiculti«? / TALK (DE)

25 April 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Louis Kahn was one of the few architects to create sacred buildings for three world religions – for the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths. Michael Merrill has researched the religious buildings by Kahn. Wolfgang Lorch, whose architectural firm Wandel Hoefer Lorch designed Dresdnen’s New Synagogue, talks with Michael Merrill about sacred architecture for a multicultural society. Free admission, registration not required

Primitive Future – Sou Fujimoto / TALK (EN)

4 April 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

The Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto develops fascinating structures that explore future possibilities of living and dwelling. In a talk with Friedrich Meschede, Director of Kunsthalle Bielefeld, Fujimoto presents his work and elucidates his concept of a »primitive future«.Free admission, registration not required

Body and Architecture – Thomas Florschuetz / TALK (DE)

21 March 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

This talk with Thomas Florschuetz and Hubertus von Amelunxen, President of the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Braunschweig, explores the interplay of architecture and photography and the various perspectives through which a building can be viewed.Free admission, registration not required

Architecture in Focus – Thomas Florschuetz / WEDNESDAY MATINEE (DE)

13 March 2013, 10 am, Vitra Design Museum

Curator Jochen Eisenbrand leads visitors on a guided tour of the Vitra Design Gallery, offering insights into the works by Thomas Florschuetz and establishing links to the Kahn retrospective.€ 7.00 per person, registration not required

City, Land, River – Louis Kahn for Children / CHILDREN’S TOUR (DE)

For Louis Kahn, the interplay between nature and architecture played a decisive role. Following a tour of the exhibition, we will sketch the museum and the VitraHaus in the context of their surroundings.For children 5 – 12 years of age. € 5.00 per child,registration at workshops@design-museum.de

Identities of Architecture – David Adjaye / TALK (EN)

7 March 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

David Adjaye is a shooting star in the contemporary architectural scene and a typical representative of a new generation of architects. He was born in Tanzania, lives in London and pursues building projects on multiple continents. In his talk, Adjaye explains how he places a central focus on the expectations of users and develops structures of fascinating sculptural power.Free admission, registration not required

Louis Kahn Contemporary – William Whitaker / TALK (EN)

28 February 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

In autumn 2012, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park in New York was completed posthumously as one of the last great projects by Louis Kahn. At this event, William Whitaker, Curator of the Louis I. Kahn Collection at the University of Pennsylvania, speaks about this project, the American identity and Louis Kahn today. Free admission, registration not required

My Architect – Nathaniel Kahn / FILM (EN)

23 February 2013, 5 pm, Vitra Design Museum

In his 2003 film, Nathaniel Kahn presents a poignant portrait of his father Louis Kahn addressing the power of architecture as well as the lifelong personal pursuits and passions of the great master builder. After the screening, Nathaniel Kahn will speak about his father, his architecture and his experiences while shooting the film.Admission € 8.00 per person, registration not required

22 February 2013, 5 pm, Vitra Design Museum

The exhibition »Louis Kahn – The Power of Architecture« opens with a talk between the renowned art historian Stanislaus von Moos and Nathaniel Kahn, son of Louis Kahn. The discussion will focus on Kahn’s uncompromising pursuit of timeless architecture, his significance for architecture today as well as Kahn’s complicated and multifaceted personal life. The talk will be complemented by a clip from the film »My Architect«.€ 10.00 per person, registration at events@design-museum.de

Bang! – Pop Art for Kids / CHILDREN'S GUIDED TOUR (DE)

3 Feb 2012, 11 am, Vitra Design Museum

Colourful, loud and eye-catching – that’s the world of Pop Art. Inspired by objects like the Bocca lips sofa, we will become acquainted with Pop Art’s often crazy cult of everyday life and subsequently design our own Pop Art works. For children from 5 – 12 years of age. € 5.00 per child, registration at workshops@design-museum.de

Comic Live – Kati Rickenbach / SPECIAL (DE)

31 Jan 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

The comic artist Kati Rickenbach has made a name for herself as one of today’s up-and-coming illustrators. In a mix of reading and live drawing, she will present some highlights from her books and establish links to Pop Art. A cooperation with the Cartoonmuseum Basel.€ 5.00 per person, registration not required

My Desk is My Castle – Lecture with Uta Brandes / TALK (DE)

24 Jan 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Uta Brandes is among the most renowned researchers in the field of office culture. The theme of the richly illustrated lecture is the office in the age of pop culture – from highly decorated and kitschinfused workplaces up to the new office concepts of big corporations. The event will be held in German. Free admission, registration not required

Blow Up – Michelangelo Antonioni / FILM (EN)

22 Jan 2013, 7 pm, Stadtkino Basel

The film »Blow Up« is an icon of Pop Art. In 1967, it won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and shaped the spirit of an entire generation situated between fashion fever and small town life.Klostergasse 5, CH-4051 BaselCHF 16.00 per person, registration not required

Basel Museums Night / SPECIAL (DE)

18 Jan 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Andy Warhol elevated the Polaroid photo to cult status – he used the technique to create works of art and photographed friends he encountered at the legendary club »Studio 54«. From 8 pm to midnight, you too will have the opportunity to take photographs with Polaroid cameras – to pose for the camera and record memories of a long night of culture and amusements. In addition, the children’s workshop »Paperfashion« and various guided tours will be offered. Further information can be found at www.design-museum.de

Playboy Architecture – Beatriz Preciado / TALK (EN)

10 Jan 2013, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Attention: This event is unfortunately cancelled. We are sorry for having caused any inconvenience.

Dreams Made of Foam / WEDNESDAY MATINEE (DE)

9 Jan 201, 10 am, Vitra Design Museum

Numerous objects from the Pop Art era are made of plastics. They embody lightness and zestful colour, yet no one gave much thought to the fragility of these new materials. The conservators Susanne Graner and Luise Lutz provide insights on the topic of plastic restoration.€ 7.00 per person, registration not required

Guided Tour and American Dinner / SPECIAL (DE)

13 Dec 2012, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

An exhibition visit capped off with a culinary treat: enjoy a guided tour of the exhibition »Pop Art Design« and a dinner in the style of the Pop era at the VitraHaus Café.€ 35.00 per person, registration at workshops@design-museum.de

Bang! – Pop Art for Kids / CHILDREN'S GUIDED TOUR (DE)

9 Dec 2012, 1 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Colourful, loud and eye-catching – that’s the world of Pop Art. Inspired by objects like the Bocca lips sofa, we will become acquainted with Pop Art’s often crazy cult of everyday life and subsequently design our own Pop Art works. For children from 5 – 12 years of age. € 5.00 per child, registration at workshops@design-museum.de

The tour at 11 am is already fully booked.

Melting Houses – Erwin Wurm / TALK (DE)

6 Dec 2012, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Attention: This event is unfortunately cancelled. We are sorry for having caused any inconvenience.

Pop Art at Kunstmuseum Basel / SUNDAY TOUR (DE)

2 Dec 2012, 3 pm, Kunstmuseum Basel

The Kunstmuseum Basel preserves works of Pop Art that are exclusively presented within the context of this guided tour.St. Albangraben 16, CH-4051 BaselMuseum admission, registration not required

ATOM / Concert (DE)

29 Nov 2012, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

With sounds that evoke percussion and keyboard instruments, the young musicians of the group ATOM will enter into a dialogue with the exhibited objects. The Vitra Design Museum presents this unique experience in cooperation with VIER JAHRESZEITEN RIEHEN.€ 20.00 / € 15.00 per person, registration at workshops@design-museum.de

On the Trail of Warhol? Mirko Borsche / TALK (DE)

22 Nov 2012, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Comics and illustrations played a central role in Pop Art. One of today’s most prominent German graphic artists is Mirko Borsche, who designs the Zeit Magazinamong others. In this lecture Borsche will discuss comics, llustration art and drawing in a digital age.Free admission, registration not required

Fashion, Body, Pop Culture – Fashion Presentation / SPECIAL (DE)

17 Nov 2012, 4 pm, Vitra Design Museum

The Pop Art era shaped a new understanding of fashion – from the miniskirt up to the futuristic sequined outfits by Paco Rabanne. In conjunction with the launch of »Doing Fashion Paper No 2« by the Fashion Design Institute at Basel’s Academy of Art and Design, the current body cult will be staged from a critical perspective.Free admission, registration not required

15 Nov 2012, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

The products of the company Apple are icons of our time and Apple founder Steve Jobs was one of the few entrepreneurs with pop star status. The Hamburg-based design theorist Friedrich von Borries discusses the spectrum of pop culture, media and cult products – from Dieter Rams to Jonathan Ive, head designer at Apple.Free admission, registration not required

Pop Art at Fondation Beyeler / MONDAY TOUR (DE)

12 Nov 2012, 2 pm, Fondation Beyeler

Parallel to the exhibition »Pop Art Design« at the Vitra Design Museum, the Fondation Beyeler presents Pop Art works from the collection in a special gallery. Baselstrasse 101, CH-4125 Riehen/Basel.Admission + CHF 7.00 per person, registration not required

Crossing Boundaries – Tobias and Chris Rehberger / TALK (DE)

8 Nov 2012, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Chris Rehberger is one of Germany’s most successful graphic designers while his brother Tobias numbers among the most significant contemporary artists. The brothers will talk about Pop Art, pop culture and the boundaries between fine and applied art.Free admission, registration not required

Erwin Wurm – Wednesday Matinee (DE)

7 Nov 2012, 10 am, Vitra Design Museum

Until 20 Jan 2013, the Vitra Design Museum Gallery will be presenting works by Erwin Wurm. The guided tour elucidates his work and makes links to Pop Art.€ 7.00 per person, registration not required

Pop Memories: Music meets Art – Marc Krebs / TALK (DE)

25 Oct 2012, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Are you familiar with the connection between Andy Warhol and »The Velvet Underground«? Did you know that Serge Gainsbourg – in the spirit of Roy Lichtenstein – made a soundtrack for a comic strip with Brigitte Bardot?Marc Krebs, cultural editor at TagesWoche, examines the connections between Pop Art and pop music.Free admission, registration not required

18 Oct 2012, 6 pm, Vitra Design Museum

Robert Venturi is considered one of the key originators of postmodern architecture. Martino Stierli talks about the Las Vegas films by Venturi & Scott Brown, which document the Pop aesthetic of 1960s architecture in its full splendour. Free admission, registration not required

Erwin Wurm / WEDNESDAY MATINEE (DE)

17 Oct 2012, 10 am, Vitra Design Museum

From 15 Sep 2012, the Vitra Design Museum Gallery will be presenting works by Erwin Wurm. The guided tour elucidates his work and makes links to Pop Art.€ 7.00 per person, registration not required

12 Oct 2012, 5 pm, Vitra Design Museum

The opening talk for the exhibition »Pop Art Design« will feature several prominent experts, who will discuss the dialogue between art and design and its seminal influence on Pop Art: How did this dialogue specifically evolve? What did it change in the realms of art and design? What influence does it have on the popular culture of today?€ 10.00 per person, registration by 7 Oct 2012 at communications@design-museum.de

»I wanted the object to leave the canvas …«

Interview with Allen Jones

Posted: 12 Oct 2012Allen Jones is one of the most renowned British Pop artists. In the exhibition ‘Pop Art Design’, he is represented with furniture sculptures from 1960, showing barely dressed women and questioning the border of art and design. Jones spoke about his work and the influence of Pop on contemporary creatives with Mateo Kries, Director of Vitra Design Museum.

»I do not make jokes«

Interview with Erwin Wurm

Posted: 5 Sep 2012The Austrian sculptor and installation artist Erwin Wurm works on the boundary between art and design. His artwork revolves around the clichés of pop culture and is characterised by a subtle sense of humour. The curator Mathias Schwartz-Clauss spoke to Erwin Wurm about his work.

»Design can create change.«

Interview with Jurgen Bey

Posted: 14 May 2012With his body of work situated at the border between design and art, Jurgen Bey is one of the best known designers in the Netherlands. In this interview with curator Amelie Znidaric, Bey speaks about the oeuvre of Gerrit Rietveld and his own work as a designer.